Hitching-strap clamp.



PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

I No. 849.573.

A. G. RITZ..

HITCHING STRAP CLAMP.

A APPLICATION FILED APR. 1.7. 1906.

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wi manzo d y@ om THE Nbmels Fermes no., w45 nro v c UNTTEB STATES ARTHUR G. RITZ, OF

PATENT OFFTOE.

HlTCHlNG-STRAP CLAMP.

Specification of Letters PatentV gatentecl April 9, 1907.

Application filed April 17, 1906. Serial No. 312,167.

To tI/Z 1077/0712/ it 711/1151/ con/c0171,.-

Be it known that l, Airriiuii G. Rrrz, a citizen of the United States, lioina city, in the county ot Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, have tain new and useful Improvements in lflitching-Strap Clamps, ot which the following; is a specification.

My invention relates to devices to aid in liitching horses, mules, and other animals where straps are used to hitch o r tie with, and

consists ot two vertical sides having their lower edges `ioined to two end and two more f centrally-located cross-bars; a pressing-plate pivoted in the upper rear corners of the sides and having a laterally-projecting i'ib midway its under surface, the said plate being rectangular and upwardly curved near its rear pivotal end; a thin rectangular spring, having one of its ends secured to the rear upper surface ot the pressing-plate; a rectangular sheet-metal tongue, having its rear end slightly curved upward and secured to the end loi the pressing-plate near its pivoted y end; a clamping-lever pivoted in the upward ear projections oit the sides in a manner to effectively clamp the strap.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a device to save time in hitching and unhitching horses, mules, and other animals;

second, to provide a device which will prevent the animals from untying third, to prevent the tie-kiiot themselves the strap; fourth, to provide a convenient device by the use oi which an animal 'may be hitched to a smooth vertical object, as a tree, a post, or a pole, without danger of the strap slipping down too low, and thus causing the animal to be annoyed or to break loose. il attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, torming a part ot this specification, in which*- Figure l is a view in perspective ot the device in use where the animal is hitched to a pole, the ends being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device. Fig. C3 is a transverse sectional elevation on line a' of Fig. 2, showing the relative positions ot the operating parts of the device as in use and locked. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the relative positions of the various parts when the device is unlocked. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the locking or clamping lever. Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the hitching-strap clamp or deresiding at Oklal invented ceri,

trom being drawn so tight as to necessitate the cutting ot 2 l vice formed ot the two equal parallel sides fr and l, having their lower edges united to the two end cross-bars (I, e and the two more cenl trally-lotaited cross-bars I), all ot which may be cast or stamped Ytrom sheet metal and the l sides turned at right angles to the cross-bars. ln the latter case the cross-bars vI) may have halt-oval strips riveted upon their upper sui'- laces, as at t, Fig. il, to provide bearings 'tor the hitch-straps not liable to injure them.

The portion ot the hitching-straps designated as B is the portion attached to the animal and is passed through the spaces bel tween the end cross-bars (L and e and the more central ones b b, as shown in Figs. 3 and f-t. Near the upper rear corners o'l the sides r and l is pivoted the rear end ot the pressingplate (l, being cast or pressed 'trom sheet metal, rectangular in torni, having an intra-l portion being the lowest where it has a lateral tlownwardly-projecting rib d/ to aid in securing the portion B o't the hitchiugstrap lirml f in place. The said pressingplate is slightly shorter than the sides fr and l l and is adapted to a 'free movement between them.

To the upper surlacc and near the rear end ol the pressing-plate d is secured by the rivets e e the rectangular curved sheet-metal spring c and the pressed-plate tongue li, havl ing an upward curve each way lrom the eenter, the rear portion being the greater. The l width ot the spring c and the tongue l equals l that ot the pressing-plate d, their length bel ing slightly less. l The upper edges of the sides r and l have vertical ear-like extensions f, in which the l clamp-lever or locking-lever l) is pivoted and l is adapted to move ilreely between the said l sides. The iront end ot the said clanip-lever l is oval, turned slightly upward, and is l broader than the body, which has its portion l rearward from the pivotal point turned downward at a right angle 'forming the cani member D, by means ol" which the return portion l B the hitching-strap B is 'lirmly h eld in y position, as shown `in Fig. 3, the tension o'l l the spring c in comunetion with the tongue E establishing the pressure upon the said strap and adapting the device to straps oi varying thicknesses.

rhe inside width oi' the device is determined by the length ot the cross-b ars e a and l) and is governed by the width of the straps upon which it is to be used.

TOC

IlO

In operation, having attached the hitching- I following elements; a body' tical side wall members with their lower edges joined together by cross-bars; a pressi iig-plate d having its rear end upward curved and pivoted in the said side walls and having strap to the animal to be hitched, pass the loose end of the strap through the spaces between the cross-bars of the device, as shown in Fig. 4, with the clamp-lever turned'back, pass the end oi the strap around the post or pole or other object, as in Fig. 1, and pass the strap back through the device, as shown in Fig. 4L, and draw the strap tightly around the post or pole C and turn the clamp-lever D to the locking position, as indicated in Fig. 3. To unhitch the' animal, turn the clamp -lever back to the position shown. in Fig. e, which releases the strap and permits of its being easily removed.

The device is adapted to remain upon'the hitching-strap continuously wherever placed or it may be removed at will. It is designed to be used in stables as well as on the streets.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an article of manufacture, a hitchingstrap clamp embodying in combination the l l l r' l (l i l in presence having two ver- 25 lateral rib d midway its ends forming a part 3o of its under surface 5 a rectangular sheetmetal springe Y of the said pressing-plate by loose rivets e c; a rectangular tongue-plate Ev resting upon said spring and having one of its ends secured to the said. pressing-plate by the rivets e e; the looking or ear proj ections fof the side walls r and Z; the eain D forming the ri ght-angled termination of the said locking or clamping lever, as shown and for the purposes set forth.

secured upon the rear portion clamping lever D pivoted in the In testimony whereof I my signature ot two witnesses.

ARTHUR G. RITZ.

XV. C. SHIPP. 

